Let's not fool ourselves next year the only prospects that I think (OPINION! ) are sure to start the season in Ottawa are Batherson, Brown, Formenton and Wolanin. Stutzle, Norris, Balcers, Chlapick, Abramov, Jaros and Zub will be competing for 2 or 3 spots. Tierney will start as #1 C but if Smith let's Brown make mistakes and still give him his reps he'll be #1 C in 2 months.
- granpa

I may be in the minority that I'd prefer to see Formenton spend a little more time in the AHL honing his offensive talent.

I may be in the minority that I'd prefer to see Formenton spend a little more time in the AHL honing his offensive talent.
- david22

I agree. He only has one partial year as a pro, nothing wrong with him playing another year in the A

I really think Duclair overplayed his hand. Even with his strong year his leverage was minimal.
- david22

I have to agree with this post!

Duclair had a great first half of the season and a terrible second where he only scored 2 goals. Duclair desperately needed some stability on his NHL resume and blew it by not reaching an agreement with Dorian. He will eventually sign elsewhere but not the 5 and 5 package he is looking for. Every day that passes with other UFA players signing contracts with a diminishing number teams still looking has to upset Duclair. He picked the wrong year to play hardball!

Opinions. We'll see.
- granpa

Well, unless you're talking about one of the blue-chip prospects, I would bet heavily on anyone on a two-way contract being nowhere near the opening night roster (i.e. Balcers, Chlapik, Zub, Abramov, Davidsson, Lajoie, Jaros, Daccord, Gustavsson, etc.).

I agree. He only has one partial year as a pro, nothing wrong with him playing another year in the A
- sensarmy_11

I think he should get his 9 games if he’s thriving keep him there if he’s not send him back down
But to say keep him down to work on his offensive skill is ridiculous he scored 27 goals and 53 points and Norris has 31 goals 61points ??

I may be in the minority that I'd prefer to see Formenton spend a little more time in the AHL honing his offensive talent.
- david22

Formenton scored 27 goals playing with bottom 6 linemates in a checking role and some PP.
Norris scored 31 goals playing with the best Ws and all the PP situations. Yet you have Norris playing in Ottawa next year. Keep on reading the media hype.

I hope connor brown gets traded... just way too many browns on the team. Who cares. I'll take picks or young prospect

I think he should get his 9 games if he’s thriving keep him there if he’s not send him back down
But to say keep him down to work on his offensive skill is ridiculous he scored 27 goals and 53 points and Norris has 31 goals 61points ??
- Rpm1971

During his stint in Ottawa I watched every game he played. I saw him create an
opportunity 1-2 times a game with his speed, and finish with 1 goal.

I'm wary of rushing him, even with those numbers you mentioned. He;s the youngest of all the prospects named here, my concern is that he will have problems converting opportunities with his speed at the NHL level compared to the AHL.

I may be in the minority that I'd prefer to see Formenton spend a little more time in the AHL honing his offensive talent.
- david22

It really depends on whether they think he's actually developed his game enough to be successful at the NHL level. There's also a matter of the LW scoring line roles being accounted for by Tkachuk/Stutzle, plus the fact that Paul is a significantly more polished LW prospect for the 3rd line. Now maybe Formenton comes in and blows them away in training camp, but it's also quite possible that playing #1LW minutes in the AHL with lots of special teams exposure is better for his development than playing 10min/gp on the 4th line in the NHL. It's also not impossible that one of Chlapik or Balcers might just straight-out earn the roster spot away from him in camp.

Thoughts?

Vatanen would be a reasonable option to help support Chabot... he can handle 20min/gp, is a natural RH shot, can move the puck effectively, and has the ability to contribute on both special teams (~2min/gp on both PP/PK in each of his last 2 seasons). If he's willing to accept a 1-2 yr deal, that would probably be the ideal term relative to the development of guys like Sanderson and JBD.

Athanasiou is a player they've been apparently interested in for a while, but I'm not sure how much value he would really add - especially if it cost them a player like Formenton from the starting lineup.

Thoughts?
- SENS-sational

Yes to Vatanen (because he can play both sides)
No to Athanasiou (would rather Sens bring back Duclair)

Formenton scored 27 goals playing with bottom 6 linemates in a checking role and some PP.
Norris scored 31 goals playing with the best Ws and all the PP situations. Yet you have Norris playing in Ottawa next year. Keep on reading the media hype.
- granpa

what are you talking about...he wasn't a bottom six player in Belleville

formenton is one year removed from Junior.....Norris has 2 years of NCAA (which is him playing against men) and a professional season. Norris is a much more complete player right now, and only using points to compare them is stupid. formenton uses his great speed to his advantage, but his game still needs a ton of polishing. he looked wildly out of place in his short stint in the NHL. Norris only had 3 games, but in those games he looked much more poised and ready for that level than formenton did.

they might show up to camp and everything changes, but to simply say "they had similar numbers in the AHL so they're both equally ready for the NHL".....is incredibly naïve, short sighted, and stupid

Thoughts?
- SENS-sational

Dorion has already said that they're set on D. pretty sure they have at least 8 people now to fill those 6 spots (assuming that Brannstorm isn't in the AHL)

The Formenton discussion is revealing. I am a Formenton fan.

Seems like everyone wants to gauge every player on their 1st line potential. But there are only 3 skaters on a first line. You need a good 1st line to win a Cup. But, on the other side, you can have a great 1st line (like the Leafs) and never win a playoff round since Jesus played for the Smith Falls Bears.

Formenton looks like he has all the tools to be an outstanding 3rd line player. Strong defensively, great skater, good size, kills penalties and scores enough goals to make hime a player to watch whenever he is on the ice.

Formenton should be a much easier fit than Norris in finding a starting role with the big club.

The Formenton discussion is revealing. I am a Formenton fan.

Seems like everyone wants to gauge every player on their 1st line potential. But there are only 3 skaters on a first line. You need a good 1st line to win a Cup. But, on the other side, you can have a great 1st line (like the Leafs) and never win a playoff round since Jesus played for the Smith Falls Bears.

Formenton looks like he has all the tools to be an outstanding 3rd line player. Strong defensively, great skater, good size, kills penalties and scores enough goals to make hime a player to watch whenever he is on the ice.

Formenton should be a much easier fit than Norris in finding a starting role with the big club.
- spatso

I don't think the discussion is whether or not Formenton is a 1st line player......I would think that most reasonable fans realize he's likely a really good 3rd liner or an okay 2nd liner.......the discussion is whether or not he should be forced into the NHL roster if he's not ready, or would another year in the AHL be beneficial to his development.

I think of all the "big forwards" in the AHL last year (L. Brown, Batherson, Norris, Formenton, Abromov, and Balcers) Formenton is probably last or 2nd last in terms of the depth chart of who should be in the NHL vs the AHL. I think Brown, Bath, Norris and Balcers are all much more NHL ready. I think the fact that he didn't get a single game in the NHL last year is pretty telling as to where they think he is in relation to the others. Norris only had 3 games, but they were the last 3 games of the season, i'm sure he would have been in the NHL until he was need in Belleville for the playoffs. the rest all had extended time in the NHL.

The Formenton discussion is revealing. I am a Formenton fan.

Seems like everyone wants to gauge every player on their 1st line potential. But there are only 3 skaters on a first line. You need a good 1st line to win a Cup. But, on the other side, you can have a great 1st line (like the Leafs) and never win a playoff round since Jesus played for the Smith Falls Bears.

Formenton looks like he has all the tools to be an outstanding 3rd line player. Strong defensively, great skater, good size, kills penalties and scores enough goals to make hime a player to watch whenever he is on the ice.

Formenton should be a much easier fit than Norris in finding a starting role with the big club.
- spatso

Formenton is projected to be a #3 LW and he's being developed as that.

Where did you hear that?

If it was four years at 2.5 they be crazy not to take it.

Even 4x4 I would have taken.

Cap floor shouldn't be an isue especially with Dadnov here though
- david22

Sportsnet, Bob Mackenzie, Peirre M was talking about it on team 1200 radio as well.

I really think Duclair overplayed his hand. Even with his strong year his leverage was minimal.
- david22

I couldn't agree with this more.

I still hope he circles back to Ottawa once he figured out that the teams that would want him, can't afford that.

I still think even with signing Daddy, Ottawa should offer Duclair a 4 year $4M deal.... It's a bit more to the cap floor and it's not to much of an over payment.

It would also setup duclair with some stability and let him relax and just play his game and develop into the player he can be. Then re-evaluate in 4 years.

I don't think the discussion is whether or not Formenton is a 1st line player......I would think that most reasonable fans realize he's likely a really good 3rd liner or an okay 2nd liner.......the discussion is whether or not he should be forced into the NHL roster if he's not ready, or would another year in the AHL be beneficial to his development.

I think of all the "big forwards" in the AHL last year (L. Brown, Batherson, Norris, Formenton, Abromov, and Balcers) Formenton is probably last or 2nd last in terms of the depth chart of who should be in the NHL vs the AHL. I think Brown, Bath, Norris and Balcers are all much more NHL ready. I think the fact that he didn't get a single game in the NHL last year is pretty telling as to where they think he is in relation to the others. Norris only had 3 games, but they were the last 3 games of the season, i'm sure he would have been in the NHL until he was need in Belleville for the playoffs. the rest all had extended time in the NHL.
- sensarmy_11

I'm curious with why your think Formenton is last or near last to be NHL ready when you include a list with Abromov and Balcers? Neither of those guys are screaming NHL ready to me.

I would not put much stock into what decisions where made last year for call ups. The NHL season will be starting in January (if we are lucky) almost a year removed from last season.

I am not sure Formenton is ready for full time NHL duties but I feel he is in the same crapshoot as all the prospects who are on the fence for the NHL from the AHL. The determining factor maybe roles that the team requires rather than NHL readiness.

I couldn't agree with this more.

I still hope he circles back to Ottawa once he figured out that the teams that would want him, can't afford that.

I still think even with signing Daddy, Ottawa should offer Duclair a 4 year $4M deal.... It's a bit more to the cap floor and it's not to much of an over payment.

It would also setup duclair with some stability and let him relax and just play his game and develop into the player he can be. Then re-evaluate in 4 years.
- Maverick1818

That's a barbaric amount if the team wasn't willing to qualify the guy to get, worst an overpayment for 1 year.

Not sure Duclair would circle back but if he did, it is definitely not for a 16 million over 4 years, since the Sens are ok for the cap floor with Murray and Daddy signed.

The Formenton discussion is revealing. I am a Formenton fan.

Seems like everyone wants to gauge every player on their 1st line potential. But there are only 3 skaters on a first line. You need a good 1st line to win a Cup. But, on the other side, you can have a great 1st line (like the Leafs) and never win a playoff round since Jesus played for the Smith Falls Bears.

Formenton looks like he has all the tools to be an outstanding 3rd line player. Strong defensively, great skater, good size, kills penalties and scores enough goals to make hime a player to watch whenever he is on the ice.

Formenton should be a much easier fit than Norris in finding a starting role with the big club.
- spatso

If Norris cannot beat NHL goalies with his shot then he drops to a 3rd line center prospect in the Sens depth chart. He's projected to be middle of F group (6-7) and he's being developed as that.

Hogberg was a bit of a bright spot last year that fans could grasp onto ,. Hence the attatchment. But he is what he is. Too many goalie choices is not a
bad thing. The way Dorion has structured where their at , its all good . Sooner or later some will be moved along. I really like what Dorion/Melynk are doing.

I’m just saying Formanton will get his 9 game stint and if they play him on PK and he gets as many Break away and finish on them weather you like it or not he’s there to stay he’s gonna be the LW Pageau 🤙

That's a barbaric amount if the team wasn't willing to qualify the guy to get, worst an overpayment for 1 year.

Not sure Duclair would circle back but if he did, it is definitely not for a 16 million over 4 years, since the Sens are ok for the cap floor with Murray and Daddy signed.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

My point was more that, that's what they should have offered him in the first place.

If he were to circle back, I think offering him the same would do wonders for the team's reputation as well as relationship with players.

Teams who commit to players and treat their players well, typically become destinations for the best players wanting to come there. A 4 Year $4M deal would be over paying, however, it would show other players and fans that Ottawa isn't cheap and they are serious about actually building a contender. As well as Duclair is ridiculously fast, has a history of being able to score if given the right opportunity and is one of the most positive players on the team. All of that goes a long way with players and fans.

As a team who just shipped out literally every star player we had, locking a few new ones up could change the perspective for a lot of people.